Bach's Home Remedies

Subject: Re: Bach's Home Remedies

bewitched wrote: Anybody know where to buy these in the neighborhood? Vitamin Shoppe and Yaba only carry the rescue remedy. I'd rather find it locally than order online.

Subject: Re: Bach's Home Remedies

alafairnadia wrote: dude, rescue remedy rules. I put drops in my cat's food when there, oh some surgery the next day, and I def. put some in my water when emotional. unfortunately, I wasmoreemo than I thought yesterday, but rescue remedy rules.

bewitched wrote: No, I don't want the resuce remedy which everybody carries. I want their brand of arnica cream.

bewitched wrote: [quote=alafairnadia][quote=bewitched]No, I don't want the resuce remedy which everybody carries. I want their brand of arnica cream.

Copyright 1999 The Times-Picayune Publishing Co.
Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA)

August 16, 1999 Monday, ORLEANS

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS LOOSELY REGULATED BY '94 DSHEA LAW

By Richard Harkness Knight Ridder Newspapers

Q. Exactly what is the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act law and how does it regulate herbal remedies?

A. Actually, DSHEA applies to all dietary supplements, not just herbal products.

This law, passed in 1994 with much fanfare, is primarily responsible for the current market boom in herbal remedies and other dietary supplements. Let's look at some history before talking about the pros and cons of DSHEA.

You'll notice a sharp irony early on: The herbal supplements market in the United States has come almost full circle since its "ancient" early days.

In the 1800s, as scientific methods became more refined, chemists began synthesizing compounds with pharmacologic activity from herbs and other plants. Many of our modern prescription drugs traveled this path. With this development, science began to catch up with the "snake oil" nostrums peddled by unscrupulous practitioners claiming miraculous but unproven cures. With new drugs came new government regulations to protect the public.

Manufacturers of herbal remedies were unable to comply with the new laws, and most of the questionable products disappeared from the scene.

By the 1970s, many people were becoming disillusioned with the complexities of modern medical care, and there was a renewed interest in "natural" products and herbal medicines.

As unregulated herbal and vitamin products became more popular and exaggerated claims became more pervasive, there were demands that these products, like drugs, be proven safe and effective. In an effort to sidestep such restrictions, consumer groups and supplement manufacturers joined hands to lobby for the passage of DSHEA. This legislation, passed in 1994, threw a protective umbrella over herbs, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids by classifying them as "dietary supplements" instead of drugs.

That started the market boom that continues today.

DSHEA is a compromise between a little bit of regulation -- primarily related to product labeling -- and the much stiffer traditional regulations required for drugs.

The offshoot is that supplement manufacturers, unhampered by the burden of scientific proof, could channel their resources into marketing and promotion. Many dietary supplement manufacturers are reputable and reliable, but at the lowest common denominator, you could work out of a garage, slap labels on bottles and ship them out.

Under DSHEA, manufacturers of dietary supplements have much leeway in making claims. The result has been a jumble of half-truths by some companies. And if you think what is printed on product labels has to be factual, you may be in for sticker shock in some cases.

For example, one study revealed that 20 percent of ginseng products tested contained no ginseng at all. Oriental herbal remedies used for arthritis have been found to be laced with steroid drugs. The list goes on. Such disclosures tend to give an undeserved black eye to reputable supplement manufacturers.

To help remedy this disturbing situation, some type of workable compromise is being called for -- a middle ground between the current lack of regulation and the stringent regulation required for drug products -- such as the adoption of a system such as that used in Germany, where herbs are an integral part of conventional health care.

The German Federal Health Agency's Commission E monographs stipulate that herbal products must be proven safe and have "reasonable proof" of effectiveness before they can be marketed in Germany.

One positive, though small, step in the right direction is FDA's recent new labeling regulations for dietary supplements. As of March 23, 1999, manufacturers are required to be more consistent and thorough in listing ingredients on product labels. You will now see a "Supplements Facts" panel on labels similar to the "Nutrition Facts" panel required on most processed foods.

* * * * * * *

Richard Harkness is a consultant pharmacist who writes on health care topics. You can write him at 1224 King Henry Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564.His e-mail address is: [email protected]. Volume of mail prohibits individual replies; selected letters will be answered in his column.

1999, The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)

sje wrote: I was just in Yaba, {OH I LOVE that place}...they do carry the full line of Bachs Herbal Remedies, not just Rescue Remedy. I ended up buying a big assortment of lovely products for myself.

BTW, I swear by Rescue Remedy. There have been times when I was pretty damned upset, and it calmed me immediately. Placebo effect or no, I think it's great stuff. Also calms pets. :!:

Subject: Re: Bach's Home Remedies

alafairnadia wrote: wait, what's wrong with rescue remedy? between rescue remedy and emergen-c, I pretty much survive ...

Smokin' Joe wrote: best bach home therapies in my book are the goldberg variations (both glenn gould versions) and/or, depending on the problem, the sonatas and partitas for solo violin (grumiaux), played on a quality stereo, snifter of good cognac in hand.

works like a charm.